News

23-09-2024

four new films in october

Ammodo releases four new short documentaries about visual artists Ibrahim Mahama and Jonathas de Andrade, opera director Pierre Audi and quantum scientist Stephanie Wehner. These films will see a worldwide online release on 15 October on YouTube and ammododocs.org where they will be permanently and freely available. The films are part of Ammodo Docs.

Launched in 2023, Ammodo Docs is a series of artistic shorts about original minds in arts and science. In fifteen-minute films, renowned Dutch filmmakers challenge viewers to experience the world through the eyes of pioneers in their field. 2023 saw the release of seven films. In 2024, four new films are being added to the collection – and several other films are in production.

“We’re thrilled that our initiative to produce films has been so well-received – the first season of Ammodo Docs garnered awards at several film festivals. This year’s films are equally exciting, and we’re incredibly proud to have these renowned names join our series. We can’t wait to share their inspiring perspectives with the world.”
– Oda Barten, Director Science and Documentaries at Ammodo
 

Selected artists and scientists are paired with documentary makers who portray their subjects in surprising and insightful ways. This year’s films are directed by Maria Ramos, Marjoleine Boonstra, Sara Kolster and Marina Meijer.

Subscribe to Ammodo Docs on YouTube to be notified immediately when the new documentaries are uploaded on 15 October.

On 14 October, the release of the new films will be celebrated during a festive event at Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam where all four films will be shown. The event will be attended by Ibrahim Mahama, Pierre Audi, Jonathas de Andrade and the filmmakers.

Ammodo Docs 2024
Ibrahim Mahama lays bare colonial scars with his monumental art installations, whilst at the same time building an infrastructure for the flourishing Ghanaian art scene.

Ibrahim Mahama – Dear Home of Scars
Director: Marina Meijer
Co-producer: Een van de jongens

Stephanie Wehner is on a mission to be the first to realise the ‘ultimate form of communication’: the quantum internet.

Stephanie Wehner – Moonshot Mission
Director: Sara Kolster
Co-producer: Basalt Film
With over eighty stage productions to his name, Pierre Audi is one the most influential voices in contemporary opera.

Pierre Audi – Three Acts
Director: Marjoleine Boonstra
Co-producer: Een van de jongens

With a touch of magic, visual artist Jonathas de Andrade bears witness to injustices in contemporary Brazilian society.

Jonathas de Andrade – Northern Winds
Director: Maria Ramos
Co-producer: Basalt Film

Nicole Beutler: “We’ll have to adapt, and that’s OK.”

Exeter Dance International Film Festival (EDIFF) 2023 has come to an end after screening a wide range of dance-related films, including Eyes Wide Open by Floris-Jan van Luyn, which portrays the artistic works of choreographic theatre artist Nicole Beutler.

EDIFF spoke to Beutler about the film, her artistic drive and her ways of remaining positive in spite of a dramatically changing climate. “All the news we receive daily is extremely devastating and produces fear of something terrible ahead of us. However, I am a mother, too, and I feel the necessity to use my imagination to think further.”

Read the full interview here.

Ammodo festival tour

Ammodo Docs on Festival Tour

Since its premiere at Go Short Nijmegen, Ammodo Docs has garnered international acclaim. At Silbersalz, Europe’s foremost science film festival, the first season of Ammodo Docs has been nominated for Best Short Science Series. And at the Australian SCINEMA International Science Film Festival, The Underground Astronaut won the award for Best Short Film! This film about the groundbreaking and widely acclaimed fungus researcher Toby Kiers was directed by Marleine van der Werf. In this article from Cosmos Magazine, a science journal, you can read the jury’s report.

All Ammodo Docs films have been selected for one or more international festivals, including the St. Louis International Film Festival (USA), Bolton International Film Festival (UK), Exeter Dance International Film Festival (UK), and On Art (Poland).

Ammodo Docs season one is now free to watch online from the Netherlands. Worldwide release to be announced. Meanwhile, production for season two is in full swing.

Portret Toby Kiers

Toby Kiers wins Spinoza Prize 2023

Congratulations! Toby Kiers is one of the two winners of the prestigious Spinoza Prize 2023, awarded by NWO, the most important science funding body of the Dutch government. 

Kiers receives €1.5 million for her research into mycorrhizal fungal networks and their role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. 

In the words of the selection committee: ‘With her unique pioneering contribution to the theory, she has drawn the world’s attention to this field of research and in the process her work also has enormous social impact.’ 

Read the jury report here 

The Spinoza Prize will be awarded on 4 October 2023. 

foto launch Eye
Photo: Maarten Nauw

Ammodo Docs launch in Eye Filmmuseum

On 17 April 2023, Ammodo Docs launched its first season in Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam. The festive event included screenings of In Between Realities, Dimension of Absence and Moving Mountains as well as Q&As with directors and film characters, and a special dance performance by choreographer Nicole Beutler.

In the following week, all documentaries were broadcast on Dutch national television.

Many thanks to all present and to all who collaborated in creating these documentaries.

As of  25 April 2023, all seven documentaries are permanently available to watch online on our website or on YouTube.

Click here to see some photos from the event.

foto go short
Photo: Jillis Molenaar

Ammodo Docs premiere at Go Short

It was a joyous moment to say the least, when on 7 April 2023 Ammodo Docs premiered at Go Short – International Short Film Festival Nijmegen!

After a long buildup, all seven films from the first season were finally shown on the big screen. The premiere was organised in collaboration with Go Short. After the screening, Ammodo Docs welcomed the press, industry professionals, crewmembers and invited guests to a drink at the festival pavilion in front of the LUX cinema.

In the festival’s finale weekend, all Ammodo Docs films were shown again as part of the regular festival programming.

Click here to see some photos from the premiere.